Origins: The Galway Races

Subject: RE: Origins: The Galway Races
From: GUEST,James Molloy
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 04:23 AM

Galway Races instiiitiued at Ballybrit, Galway in 1869 and still
galloping strong. At Galway Races was a poem written in 1908 by
William Butler Yeats, but is has nothing to do with the song.
The Irish Music Archive at 73 Merrion Square, Dublin informs me
that it is of 19th Century origin "traditional". I'd like to know
wrote the words and music   
                                    Ha

Subject: RE: Origins: The Galway Races
From: MartinRyan
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 02:13 PM

The older versions of the song, from broadsides, have the line as:

"It's there you'll see the gamblers, the thimbles and the garters
And the sporting Wheel of Fortune with the four and twenty quarters"
... which is no help, really!

Sounds like your set is slightly modernised... A quick Google on "trick of the loop" will give an idea of what's involved.

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: The Galway Races
From: MartinRyan
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 01:43 PM

Probably "trick-o-the-loop". I'll get back

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: The Galway Races
From: DonMeixner
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 08:07 AM

Hi Eric,

Thanks for looking. I'm assuming it is a game from old time fairs.

It is in the version sung by the Corries and a few others I have heard.

Don

Subject: RE: Origins: The Galway Races
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 06:14 AM

I've just looked at the Galway Races in two song books Soodlums and Ossian and I can't find this line, are you sure you've got the right song.

eric

Subject: Origins: The Galway Races
From: DonMeixner
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 02:25 PM

"The Men with the long garters what they call the "Chick o the loop"

So what is the Chick o the Loop?

Don